Pronunciation: [ɐbˈaʃɪz] (IPA) 
The word "abashes" is spelled with an "a" followed by a "b" and then the "sh" sound which is represented by the letters "a" and "s". This is followed by the "es" sound which is represented by the letter "e" and the letter "s". In IPA phonetic transcription, it is represented as /əˈbæʃɪz/. Abash means to cause someone to feel embarrassed or ashamed.
The term "abashes" is a verb that refers to the action of causing someone to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or disconcerted. It is derived from the term "abash," which originates from Middle English and the Old French word "esbair," meaning "astonish" or "confound." The primary usage of "abashes" is to describe a reaction or effect that causes someone to lose their composure, becoming visibly embarrassed or uncomfortable due to certain circumstances or events.
When someone or something "abashes" a person, it may involve actions, statements, or situations that evoke feelings of shame, humiliation, or self-consciousness. This can occur through various means, such as public criticism, unexpected events, or personal failures. The intensity of the feeling of being abashed can depend on the individual's personality, temperament, and the severity of the situation.
The term "abashes" can also be utilized in a more general sense to describe a state of embarrassment or self-consciousness. In this context, it denotes a feeling of unease or awkwardness resulting from a person's perception of a mistake, error, or societal judgment.
To summarize, "abashes" is a verb associated with causing someone to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or disconcerted. It represents the act of undermining an individual's composure and self-assurance, resulting in feelings of discomfort or humiliation.
The word abashes is derived from the Middle English word abashen, which can be traced back to the Old French word abacher. The Old French term abacher itself has its origins in the Vulgar Latin word bassicare, which means to lower, to crush, or to destroy. This Latin root is connected to the Latin adjective bassus meaning low or short. Over time, abacher in Old French developed the sense of causing someone to feel embarrassed or ashamed, which eventually led to the modern English word abash.
